The Heath golf club Laois

The Heath Golf Course

The Heath Golf Club has the distinction of being the 7th oldest golf club in Ireland, founded in 1889 as the Queen’s County Heath Golf Course. Golf has been played at its present location since then.

Renowned for its remarkable dryness it is playable all year round it is set in magnificent surroundings with scenic views of the rolling hills of Co. Laois.

Measuring 6,118 m off the blue tees it is a Par 71 with a standard scratch to match. The course is renowned for its rough heather and gorse furze it is a challenge to low and high handicappers alike. Water comes into play on the 463 m Par 5 fourth, followed by the 304 meter Par 4 fifth and again on the challenging finishing hole. Its feature hole is undoubtedly the 164 meter Par 3 eleventh, known as the quarry hole.

The Heath has a magnificent clubhouse built on the site of the original racing stand, where the visitor is extended the warmest of welcomes and can relax in the comfortable surroundings.

Notable rounds

Men's Course Record: Am. 66 Des Morgan (2) Mullingar G. C.

Ladies Course Record: 68 Evelyn Hearn (4) Waterford G. C.

Members Achievements

The Ladies of the Heath Golf Club won the Mid-Leinster Final of the Junior Foursomes at Tramore Golf Club on Saturday 2nd September 2017 when the beat Castlecomer Golf Club by 2-matches to 1-match. They were led out by Poilin Hooban with Roisin Adams who beat Betty Owens with Maureen Norton by 3 and 2, next on the tee was Sadie Ging with Mary Malone who had a narrow 1-hole win over Ita Madigan with Emma Walsh and in the bottom match Mary Cushen with Anne Dunne lost out to Theresa Manning with Nuala Mahon by 4 and 3. They made their way to Malone Golf Club to participate in the All-Ireland Deciders and were drawn against Portumna Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Thursday 28th September and were led out by Sarah A. Ging with Mary Malone wholost their match against Mary and Brid Kelly by 2 and 1, in the second match Helen Kelly with May Tyrrell recorded a 4 and 3 loss against Carmel Cunningham with Bernie Kilmartyn and in the bottom match Mary Cushen with Ann Dunne lost their match against Mary McElroy with Mary M. Madden by 3 and 2.

The Ladies of The Heath Golf Club won the Western Regional Final of the Ladies Miele Irish Interclub Foursomes at Slieve Russell Golf Club in 2010; when they beat Portumna Golf Club by 1-hole. They were led by Catherine Reilly with Mary Doyle who beat Suzanne Corcoran with Mary Madden by 6 and 5, they were followed by Marie Conlon with Rita McNamara who had a 3 and 1 win over Anne Cassidy with Audrey McGrath, next up was Nuala Arrigan with Mary McNamara who lost their match against Carmel Cunningham with Mary McDonagh by 4 and 3, in the bottom match Helen Kelly with Roisinn Adams lost out to Anita Carey with Mary McElroy by 4 and 3.

They met Eastern Regional Champions Milltown Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final at Glasson Golf Club on Sunday 19th September and were led again by Catherine Reilly (6) with Mary Doyle (13) who recorded a halve against Deirdre Walsh (2) with Mary Rose Binchy (19) when called-in, they were followed by Chloe Fitzpatrick (6) with Rita McNamara (17) who lost their match by 5 and 4 against Aileen Dawson (8) with Dorothy McCann (16), in the penultimate match Arrigan (11) with Marie Conlon (13) halved their match when called-in against Penny Gleeson (7) with Eithne Gogan (17), the bottom match of Helen Kelly (15) with Roisin Adams (17) was a resounding 7 and 6 win for Maeve Whelan (10) with Emer O'Donoghue (16)

They went on to met Northern Regional Champions Rockmount Golf Club in the match to decided the third place, they were led again by Catherine Reilly (6) with Mary Doyle (13) who beat Jo Donaldson (11) with Rosie McCrea (18) by 1-hole, they were followed by Chloe Fitzpatrick (6) with Marie Conlon (13) who went all the way to the 19th-hole before securing the point against Ciara Agnew (13) with Jan Lindsay (18), next up was Nuala Arrigan (11) wit Rita McNamara (17) who lost their match against Noreen Mikhael (15) with Lorraine Toolin (18) by 4 and 2, in the bottom match Mary McNamara (17) with Pat Lambe (17) beat Diane Patterson (15) with Carol McGrath (22) by 1-hole.

The Ladies of the Heath Golf Club won the Mid-Leinster Final of the Senior Foursomes in the ILGU Inter-club Championships, when they beat Woodenbridge Golf Club by 2½ matches to ½ match on Saturday 4thSeptember 2010. First on the tee was Catherine Reilly with Mary Doyle who won their match by 5 an 4 against Denise McCarthy with Maureen Doyle, they were followed by Chloe Fitzpatrick with Marie Conlon who halved their match against Sandra Watkins with Mary McDonald when called-in, the bottom match of Nuala Arrigan with Shannen Browne won their match by 4 and 2 against Anne White with Breda Murphy.They made their way to Donabate Golf Club to compete in the National deciders where they met Ulster Champions in the All-Ireland quarter-finals on Friday 24th September, they were led again by Catherine Reilly (6) with Mary Doyle (13) who lost their match against Gail Linter (8) with Voilet McBride (3) by the slender of margins that 1-hole, they were followed by Chloe Fitzpatrick (6) with Marie Conlon (13) who won their match by 2 and 1, the bottom match of Nuala Arrigan (11) with Shannen Brown (13) was lost to Julie Morrison (6) with Pauline Bailie (9) by 2 and 1, so it was not to be for 2010.

The Ladies of Heath Golf Club won the Mid-Leinster Final of the AA-Insurance ILGU inter-club Minor Cup in 2007 and made their way to Athlone Golf Club to compete in the National Deciders where they met East-Leinster and eventual green pennant winners Dun Laoghaire Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and lost out by 3 matches to 2 matches.

They were led Peggy Lambe (24) who had a convincing 5 and 4 win over Phyl Glavin (23), she was followed by Marie Egan (24) who lost her match by 6 and 5 against Sheila Clancy-Nolan (24), next up was Rachel Brennan (25) who lost her match against Martina Lee (24) by 4 and 3, in the penultimate match Ann Dunne (25) had a 3 and 2 win over Mary Dempsey (25), the bottom match of Betty Scully (28) lost her match by 4 and 2 against Jo Ebbs (27).

Brian Keenan was selected to represent Ireland at the Boys' Home Internationals played at Woodhall Spa, Lioncolnshire from 2nd to 4th August 2005.

They Won the Jimmy Bruen Shield Leinster Final in 2000. The team was T. Murray, J. Delany, C. Beere, J. Fingleton, L. Horgan, B. Bohane, S. Bohane, S. Beere, L. Adams, M. Cashin. J. Phelan, J. Ireland, M. Fahy, B. Hoare and T. Fogarty they were managed by J. Keenan. They were beaten in the Final at Lahinch Golf Club

Lady Captain Catherine Reilly and her Captain's Prize winner Helen Kelly were runners-up in the last regional qualifier in the Volkswagen-Irish Independent Lady Captain's Classic at Headfort Golf Club in September 2001. Catherine playing off 8 and Helen off 13 posted a score of 38 points. They booked their place in the National Finals at Druid's Glen on the 1st of October.

Lady Captain Catherine Reilly, Captain John Arrigan and President Sean Donoghue came close to lifting the Mercedes Benz-Irish Independent Executive Trophy at the K Club on the 13th of August 2001. They returned 74 points in the National Final just one shot off the winners.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

Brian Keenan represented Ireland at Irish Boys level from 2005 to 2006 playing 17-times won 5-matches halved five and lost 7-matches accumulating 15-points. He represented Leinster as a Youth Interprovincial in 2008 playing 6-times won 1-match halved three and lost 2-matches accumulating 5-points. He represented Leinster at Boys Interprovincial level from 2004 to 2006 playing 17-times won 12-matches halved one and lost 4-matches accumulating 25-points;

History of The Heath

Although the present club was not formed until 1930, golf has been played at this location as far back as November 1889. The Heath is in fact the seventh oldest club in Ireland and was known as the Queen’s County Heath Golf Club. Viscountess Carlow presented the Emo Challenge Cup in 1891 that was played for annually by lady and gentleman members.

It was also known as the Maryboro Golf Club, the pre-Treaty name for Portlaoise. Its location has not changed and the clubhouse was the Grandstand of the racecourse and the present clubhouse is in the exact same position as the old Grandstand.

The first President was the Earl of Portarlington and the first Captain was Colonel Cosby. There were 73 members with three ladies on the committee in 1892.